Re: value of old riding mower

Posted by rustyj14 on January 18, 2005 at 10:32:59 from (209.195.142.160):

In Reply to: value of old riding mower posted by aggieamy on January 14, 2005 at 13:24:54:

1. Check for spark! Hold end of spark plug wire metal part, have somebody pull the starter rope! you'll be able to tell right quick if it has spark! Or, clamp the spark plug to the engine, with the wire attached and plug out of cylinder head, pull rope sharply, watch end of plug-look for sparking. If spark, go to step 2. If no spark, will probably need points and condenser. Install new points/ condenser. Don't know how? Access Briggs or Tecumseh web sites, or buy a small engine handbook/ repairs, etc.
3. Detach carburetor, carefully dismantle, clean in laquer thinner, or buy a quart of carb cleaner. Soak in cleaner over night, being sure not to soak any rubber or cork gaskets, seals, etc. Next day, blow out all passages, clean fuel bowl, Watch you don't blow out any small seals, gaskets, etc. They fly thru the shop and hide someplace, leaving you to tear out yer hair, trying to find it/ them! (You'll find them next summer while searching for something not related to those parts.)
4: Install new sparkplug, set gap to .030! Clean out fuel tank with laquer thinner, allow to dry, re-install, and put in a quart of gas.
5: Drain out old oil, allowing it to drain well! Install new SAE 30 non-detergent oil. (Some think detergent oil is better, but those old engines will run great on the non stuff!) Add oil in the fill hole. If it has a slanted hole on the lower part of the block, add oil until it runs out, then put in plug!
6: with spark plug out, pull starter rope 5-6 times to distribute the new oil, then install spark plug and wire. Set choke, or move throttle control to "Start". Pull rope sharply, may take a bunch of pulls. If engine tries to start, move throttle handle off choke position to "run"!
If all else fails, go pick the brain of the nearest lawn mower guy, maybe he can help you!
7: If you can get it running, it will be worth a lot more than if it doesn't run. Somebody may be interested in it for nostalgia, but those folks are few! Might as well invest a few hours in it, to get more for it!
by: Rustyj

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